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Defence: Higher Education

Asked by Mr Andrew SnowdenConservativeMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 15 June 2026UIN 8392

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the geographical distribution of the additional student places funded through the Strategic Priorities Grant competition.

Answered by Luke Pollard

As part of the Defence Industrial Strategy skills package, the Ministry of Defence is investing £80 million into the Strategic Priorities Grant. This is administered by the Office for Students (OfS), who are responsible for designing and evaluating the competition as an independent, impartial body. All eligible Higher Education institutions in England were able to apply.

After 112 bids were received in the competition, the OfS have allocated this funding to 24 colleges and universities across England. This regional spread will ensure that a wide spectrum of students and the defence industry will benefit from this funding, helping to drive regional growth.

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